Oman holidays

Essential Information

Currency

Omani Real
1.00 USD = 0.38 OMR

Why Oman

We rarely think of Oman as the next destination to visit. I even dare say that we think of Oman only in a game when we need to write a country that begins with the letter "O". However, Oman has many other qualities besides being the joker in the Category City, State or Country of a memory game. Oman is a beautiful country that still preserves characteristics of a destination little explored by tourists, and therefore retains the authenticity and originality of an Arab state. So why not start planning your holidays in Oman?

It is on the Arabian Peninsula and is neighbors the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. The Strait of Hormuz demarcates the division of the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is of extreme political importance because about 60% of the Arabian oil goes there. Across the waters are Iran and Pakistan.

Oman and its capital, Muscat, offer the much-appreciated opportunity for visitors to make contact with an Arab culture without the distorted lens of opulence and wealth that dominates the entire region. The small towns of Oman maintain the traditional Bedouin values ​​and the natural beauty given by the high mountains of al-Hajar, the windy deserts, and a pleasant coastline. An incredible travel destination!

Climate

Oman's climate can be described as dry subtropical, due to the hot desert climate, with low annual rainfall, very high summer temperatures and the large difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures, especially in the interior regions.

The summer months, between July and September, are those of the lowest rainfall and also those in which temperatures are most likely to reach 40 degrees Celsius. Oman holidays are best done in the winter when it is colder, and it rains from time to time. Or in spring and autumn which offer the most pleasant periods to visit Oman when the weather is comfortably warm and dry (with maximum temperatures between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius and the nightly lows between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius).

The Shamal, high winds that bring sandstorms can occur throughout the year but are more common in spring and summer, between March and August.

How to Spend Your Oman Holidays

On holidays in Oman a major attraction is the Great Mosque (Masjid) of Sultan Qaboos in Muscat. Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said has been on the throne since 1970 and is a descendant of other sultans who have ruled the country for more than 200 years (when Oman was reconquered from the Portuguese by the Ottoman Empire) in a peaceful and neutral way, without taking sides in conflicts that take place in the Middle East. To commemorate the 30 years of his sultanate, he gave this nation the gift of this mosque.

Like other mosques, this does not save on details and grandeur. The interior is luxurious, and the highlight is the massive crystal chandelier that sits in the main prayer room. Another highlight of the visit is the immense carpet that covers its interior, which took four years to be made by 600 women and was until recently the largest Persian carpet in the world (now the largest is the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi).

Be aware of the clothes you will wear not to be barred at the entrance, and the visiting hours, as the mosque is open to the public only from 8 am to 11 am from Saturday to Thursday.

Located in the old center of Muscat, the palace Al Alam of Sultan Qaboos is another must stop on holidays to Oman. At the end of a broad avenue is the exotic palace of blue and yellow colors. Blue represents the sea and sky of Oman while yellow represents the country's sun and oil. Behind the palace is the sea, and next to it, the "small" guest house, where there are authorities and heads of state who visit the country. More to the side and on top, with earthy colors is the Portuguese fort, from the time that Oman was ruled by them.

Finally to cap off your Oman holiday, on the Corniche seafront promenade, is the Muttrah Souk, an actual Arab souk (Souk = market) that has several little shops to freak out in. There they sell spices of all kinds, those traditional Arab shoes full of embroidery, gold, fabrics and cashmere of the best quality, regular clothes, travel souvenirs and decorative objects, among others goods and trinkets. The most interesting are that the interior has an ancient and traditional trade, but the building where the souk is modern and clean.

The World Heritage list in Oman includes the following locations:

Bahla Fort (1987)

Archaeological sites of Bat, Al-Khutm, and Al-Ayn (1988)

Route of the Incense (2000)

Irrigation Systems Aflaj (2006)

Where to Stay

Who has never had doubts about choosing hotels? If you want for example: Hotel for Oman, it is indispensable to do a good search for you to have an unforgettable trip, which can often be a simple weekend, or your super holidays scheduled or only a few days, so there is the need to seek out the best opportunities for you to travel, stay on Oman holidays.

For the choice of hotels, you should keep in mind some questions: which type of accommodation do you prefer luxurious or simple, are you going to travel by car, rent a car or use public transport? These ratings will help when it comes to choosing.

When to Go

If you believe that Arab countries are all over vast deserts bounded by deep blue, then surely you have not yet visited Oman. With its deep rocky gorges, picturesque valleys lined with date palm trees, weather beaches, live springs, playing hide and seek amidst emerald green mountains, serene lagoons, and dry rock gardens, the country is truly one of the blessings of the Gods. Discover this on Oman holidays.

Located on the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is a country with a mixed cultural heritage. So, if you are here, prepare to be welcomed by people with a culturally rich and warm heart. If you are an adventure freak, Oman has wonderful surprises in store for you – from diving, camping, caving, hiking, camel racing and horse racing, to name a few, Oman is surely seeker's paradise an adventure! And, for all women to read this, check out Omani flea markets for their garbage harlequin’s jewelry and other handicrafts.

Since the weather remains quite similar throughout the year, you can visit Oman at any time. However if possible, you can give the summer season a miss as the average temperature during this time stays about 42 degrees Celsius. The nights are also uncomfortable. The mountainous areas experience an entirely different type of climate compared to the subtropical climate of desert-like coastal areas. In fact, if you are lucky, you can also witness snow-covered mountain peaks of Oman. If you ask us, we would be happy to recommend the short spring and fall seasons for you to plan your holidays to Oman.

During this time, the temperature hovers around 25-35 degrees Celsius during the day, while the night temperature remains between 15-22 degrees Celsius, making these seasons the peak time for tourists. Winters are big time to plan a trip too, but thanks to erratic precipitation, it is advisable to avoid this time. In case, your trip is already finished, so be sure to pack some waterproof clothing to avoid being stuck in your hotel room. For peak season, pack in some cotton and linen clothes and some warmer wear for the evenings. All these and ready to enjoy a great trip to the land of God himself, Oman!

How to Get to Oman

Many large international airlines have the sultanate as a destination for Oman holidays. Currently, from Lisbon there are flights offered by Swiss International, via Zurich; By Lufthansa on codeshare with Qatar Airways, via Frankfurt and Doha; By TAP Air Portugal in codeshare with Emirates, via London Heathrow and Dubai; By British Airways in codeshare with Oman Air, via London Heathrow; By TAP Air Portugal in codeshare with Virgin Atlantic, via London Heathrow and Dubai. Oman Air also offers good connections between Muscat and Salalah, Sur, Khasab, Masirah and Thumrait.

Planning Your Holidays to Oman

You can experience the great clear beaches the invite you to bathe in the green shores of Oman from Al-Batinah on holidays in Oman. From Muscat, you can get there quickly on the modern motorway. The entire coastal strip offers villages, palaces and old oasis towns, which many tourists back because of its Islamic architecture. Especially beautiful and noteworthy are the oasis towns of Rustaq, Al-Hazm, and Nakhl, as well as the port city of Sohar, which is also regarded as the hometown of Sinbad the Sailor.

It is also interesting the enclave of Musandam in the Strait of Hormuz, known as the “Norway of Arabia” because of its fjords. Meanwhile, the tourist infrastructure is well developed because of its good position and economic potential. The relief is very steep and little inhabited and offers unforgettable holidays in its fjords, which can be explored by boat or with the traditional dhows (traditional Arab sailing boats).

The largest tourist center is in the south of the country, on the wide green coast of Dhofar. There the inhabitants of the other states of the Gulf, tormented by the heat refresh themselves during the summer. The climate on the coast is mitigated by the Indian trade winds, and already in the Middle Ages, there was a trading post of goods like myrrh and frankincense. There is also the port city of Salalah, under the protection of UNESCO, because there is the tomb of the legendary Queen of Sheba.

Inside the country, on the freeway to the city of Nizwa, visitors are offered an unimaginable landscape of the sandy desert of Rub al-Chali. Nizwa is, since the Middle Ages the secret capital in opposition to Muscat, which is a city open to the world and well worth visiting on holidays to Oman. This city houses a huge defense castle that was built during the war against the Portuguese. The height of this construction is only surpassed by the minaret and the central dome in blue and gold of Jamia Majid. Nizwa has also become famous for its jewelry work, which can be purchased at lower prices than in Europe. Also worth mentioning is the oasis of Bahla, west of Nizwa, where the fortress of Hisn-Tamah is made of clay. This fortress, under UNESCO protection, is the largest in the entire sultanate and has 15 gates and 132 towers.

Conclusion

Mountains, beaches, and deserts. A trio of weight that makes the Sultanate of Oman one of the tourism trends of recent years. The country is made up of three discontinuous territories, two of which are embedded in the United Arab Emirates. It has neither the fame of its neighbor Dubai nor the number of tourists from that country. However, it earns in authenticity.

Get ready to be amazed by the fascination of the Middle East in a nation that has less than four million people with Oman holiday packages from Booked.net. These are the tourist attractions that anyone visiting this country cannot, at all, miss.